In the recent research by FMI/IRI on top trends in fresh, supermarkets are expanding their “Specialty Food Service” by installing sushi stations, charcuteries, juice bars, gourmet chocolate stations, Asian, Mexican, and many other specialty food areas. What makes this array of choice such a winning formula, is that according FMI/IRI, each food retailer can be looking at specific stores to determine which cuisines will be appropriate per location. Not only that, but the ability to transform the cuisine seasonally and utilize ingredients across aisles offers more efficient ways to use unsold produce or vegetables, or even create cross-merchandising strategies within the store.

With more shoppers than households, grocery stores are finding ways to set themselves apart in order to grow their business. Differentiation is becoming the new competitive edge. We see this unfolding in FMI’s two annual signature research studies, U.S. Grocery Shopper Trends and U.S. Food Retailing Industry Speaks. For the first time ever, we break down findings from both reports in an interactive digital experience that shows how grocers are responding to consumers in the areas of fresh foods, private brands, health and wellness and food safety. We call it Grocery Revolution.

You know that your customers look to their grocery stores for one-stop service to supply more and more of their needs and desires. Likewise, FMI Connect, United Fresh, International Floriculture Expo and the Global Cold Chain Expo will do the same for you as they take over McCormick Place’s North and South Halls when their Expos open for two days – Tuesday and Wednesday, June 21 and 22 – simultaneously and adjacent to each other.

The Honorable Jim Gerlach, president and CEO, Business-Industry Political Action Committee (BiPAC), is speaking at a joint general session at FMI’s Financial Executive/Internal Audit Conference and co-located Asset Protection Conferencewhere he’ll be assessing the impact of the 2016 presidential and Congressional elections on the food retail industry. The day after Super Tuesday, it’s an appropriate time to see what’s on his mind and preview his session. Since I run the political programs at FMI, I had some pointed questions for him.